Pressure-vacuum apparatus



L. T. WARD 2,401,849

PRESSURE-VACUUM APPARATUS Jq'ne 11, 1946.

' Filed Dec. 16, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

i 36 l 26g A@ NVENTOR.

June 1l, 1946.

L. T. WARD PRESSURE-VACUUM APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1e, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 10b f 95 57 542 46 @/3 7,0 7j [i 4772 H-f7 v5 a 69 A@ 67 7i 33 5,5 5 66 J9 l 5 6@ 90 @j 6075 73 7 67 Z @5 i 7- 31 Q Rw Z 6,3 Q 7 3Q ZC 5g 4Z@ ll' 401b 6 l, 2f-

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Patented June 11, 1946 2,401,849 I PRESSURE-VACUUM APPARATUS Lawrence T. Ward, New Knapp-Monarch Comp corporation of Missouri Continuation of application Serial No. 439,835,

April 21, 1942.

1943, Serialr No. 514,451

3 Claims.

This application is a continuation of my application, Serial No. 439,835, led April 21, 1942.

My present invention relates to a pressure-vacuum apparatus using compressed gas such as displacing embalming liquid into arteries and withdrawing blood from the veins of a corpse. Y

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character wherein embalming or similar operations may be inexpensively per- Another object is to provide an apparatus wherein the pressure on the embalming liquid may be readily controlled while using a bulb having a gas at great pressure therein, without the necessity of using expensive reducing valves to cut down the pressure.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus wherein the pressure may be nicely controlled by a needle Valve arrangement and wherein a porous element of ceramic, Carborundum or the like is compressed gas bulb and a container of embalmlng liquid to insure relatively slow flow of gas from the bulb as required in connection with embalming operations.

Still a further object is to provide a means to prevent greater than a, predetermined pressure being applied to the embalming liquid, as when th'e liquid, in flowing through the blood vessel system, strikes an obstruction, so that there is no danger of swellings resulting from a build-up of pressure in the embalming liquid discharge nozzle when such obstructions are met with. Still a further object is to provide one form of apparatus for the relatively simple operation of injecting embalming liquid by the use of a Sparklet bulb, piercing pin, pressure gauge, needle valve, and safety Valve unit, which may be used in connection with an ordinary embalming liquid container or bottle with which' a discharge nozzle or injection trocar is connected.

Still another object is to provide another form of the pressure-vacuum apparatus wherein a vacuum pump is utilized for the purpose of creating a vacuum in a second container into which the blood from the veins is drawn through an intake nozzle, the vacuum pump being operated by the n on the line 3 3 of Figure ark, N. J., assignor to any, St. Louis, Mo., a

This application December 16,

compressed gas which is thereafter used to displace the embalming liquid.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of vice whereby the obJects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of apparatus embodying my invention and showing it related to embalming mechanism;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View of th'e apparatus itself;

Figure 3 is a further enlarged sectional view Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 3 on a reduced scale, showing a slightly modiiied construction;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a pressureapparatus shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 1 1 of Figure 5, showing lthe valves of a vacuum pump thereof.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral I0 to indicate a bulb of compressed gas, such as carbonic acid gas or carbon dioxide (CO2). The bulb I0 furnishes the presmay be contained in a bulb holder I2 which screws onto a boss I3 of a body member I4. 'I'he bulb holder I2 causes the bulb to be forcibly punctured by a piercing pin I5 mounted in a bushing I6 screwed into a sleeve I1. The sleeve I1, in turn, is screwed into the boss I3. For sealing the neck of the bulb, a, gasket of rubber or the like is shown at I8.

The embalming unit body I4 has mounted therein a pressure gauge I9 which with an opening 20 which, in turn, communicates with a cross-bore 2I in the body I4. The crossbore 2| communicates with a bore 22 in which the sleeve Il' is mounted.

The bushing of suitable material, such as fine Carborundum or ceramic, so that gas can pass through the bushing I6 only relatively slowly. After the gas passes through the a valve, the seat of which is indicated at 24 and the plug for the seat at 25. The plug 25 is mounted on a stem 26, threaded at 21 in the sleeve I1 and extending through a bore 28 to a U where slight swelling is evident to remove the obstruction, and the embalming operation continued.

( Of the form of inwenfion shown in Figures 1 to 7) Referring the Figure 5, substantially the same operation as in connection with Figure 1 occurs, as far as the discharge nozzle lib and the control knob 51 are concerned. Additionally, the vacuum pump creates a vacuum in a second container 4i)c provided for the blood MC taken from the corpse. An intake nozzle 44C is provided for this purpose, connected by a hose 43C and a pipe #l2c to discharge intothe container or bottle 40. The vacuum is created therein by connection of the needle Valve 89 through a hose 38C and pipe 39C with the bottle dc. The intake nozzle 440 is thrust into the proper blood vein of the corpse for withdrawal of the blood therefrom.

In connection with the apparatus shown in Figure 5, if the operator runs out of bulbs Illb, he can manually operate the vacuum pump VP by operating the handle 1|. This results in operating the vacuum pump section as well as the power section of the vacuum pump, and the power section thereupon becomes a compressor for air taken in through a spring-closed check valve Sla. The check valve opens outwardly to prevent escape of gas, but automatically permits the intake of air at this point when the handle 'H is manually operated.

My pressure embalming apparatus eliminates the labor of hand pumping the embalming fluid, and, at the same time, gives a wide range of pressure control. The apparatus is compact and simple to operate, the power being furnished by Sparklet bulbs, which are easily and quickly applied. The initial cost of my embalming apparatus is low, as it does not include reducing valves or motor-driven compressors. The method of operation is simple, and the cost per embalming is but a few cents, as the Sparklet bulbs are relatively inexpensive. These bulbs' will each dispense about a gallon of liquid, and since they contain carbonio acid gas, there is no possibility of getting air into the blood vessels, even after all the embalming liquid is displaced. CO2 gas has the property of passing olf through body tissues, and is therefore safe to use in an apparatus of the kind I disclose.

In connection with Figure 5, the compressed gas performs both the function of operating a vacuum pump, and, thereafter, the pressure is utilized for embalming liquid displacement or utilized in any type of apparatus requiring gas under pressure. In connection with controlling the flow of the compressed gas, the use of an insert, suchA as 23, to restrict the flow, insures against any sudden build up of undesirably high pressures While operating the apparatus. Provision is also made againstl excessive pressures by the use of a safety valve, without the necessity of having to provide an expensive reducing valve for this purpose. Instead of embalming apparatus, the vacuum line 38C may be connected with any other type of apparatus utilizingvacuum for its operation.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my apparatus without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modied forms of structure, or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a pump structure, a bulb of compressed ga's, means for puncturing said bulb to permit escape of the gas under pressure therefrom, a vacuum pump, pressure operated means for operating said vacuum pump by the escaping gas from said bulb, and means for conducting the exhausting gas from said pressure operated means after it has operated the same to a pressure utilizing means.

2. In a pump structure, a pressure operated vacuum pump, a supply of compressed gas, means for admitting gas therefrom under pressure to the pressure Operated section of said vacuum pump for operating it, means for exhausting gas from said pressure operated section to a means for utilizing the gas under pressure from said exhausting means, said vacuum pump having an intake for connection with a vacuum utilizing means.

3. Apparatus of the kind disclosed comprising a pressure operated vacuum pump having a power section and a vacuum pump section, a bulb of compressed gas communicating with said power section, said power` section including an exhaust port having a connection for a pressure utilizing means, said vacuum pump section having an intake port and a discharge port to atmosphere, said intake port having a connection for a vacuum utilizing means to create a vacuum therefor.

LAWRENCE T. -WARD. 

